The Royal Menagerie | The Royal Mint

As one of the nation’s oldest historic sites, the Tower of London draws millions of visitors each year to experience its unique atmosphere and learn about its incredible history. In 2019 we began a series celebrating the iconic fortress and now four new £5 coins join the Tower of London Collection for 2020. Following on from the White Tower, we explore the Royal Menagerie – London’s first zoo. The menagerie’s story started in medieval times, when monarchs enjoyed exchanging rare and exotic animals as status symbols. Inspired by a wedding gift of three lions, Henry III began his own collection of animals at the Tower. Heraldic artist Timothy Noad pays tribute to these founding beasts in the latest coin in the series. A Norman arched window frames the original designs on each coin and unifies The 2020 Tower of London Collection – joined by the exclusive Tower of London mint mark. The collection is available at a range of price points, with an edition for every royal history enthusiast. Each coin in the collection comes with packaging created in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces, where you can read more tales from the Tower.